Native bird ecology TA3 Interaction with vegetation/flora General - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Native bird ecology

Interaction with vegetation/flora General overview

TA3

History

• Native flora and fauna evolved

together over millions of years

• Adapted to local soil and

climatic conditions

• Some relationships between

native plants and animals are very specific, others are not

• In WA, knowledge of relations

between flora & fauna is not well documented

• Generally,

non-local plant species are used much less by animals

TA4

Use of flora by birds

• Shelter, roosting &

resting

• Nesting
• Food

TA5

Shelter, roosting & resting

• Most bird species will roost or

shelter in a wide range of plant species, as long as they provide cover

• Others have marked preferences
• Eg rufous night heron prefers

trees with dense canopy (paperbarks, dense clumps of foliage inc pine trees).

• Dead branches used by rainbow

bee eater, swallows & tree martins also use power lines.

TA6

Nesting

• Varies greatly between bird

species

• Some require tree hollows

(trees 100+ years old)

• Others use vertical forks in

trees, horizontal branches

• r outer foliage

TA7

Food

Most bush birds obtain food from trees/ shrubs either directly or indirectly

– nectar, seeds, fruits, gum, insects/ insect larvae

TA8

Impact of European settlement

silver gull welcome swallow magpie white-faced heron galah black-shouldered kite crested pigeon straw necked/ sacred ibises

TA9

Impact of European settlement

yellow-plumed honeyeater freckled duck shoveller scarlet & yellow robins red-winged fairy wren rufous tree-creeper whistling kite brown falcon red-tailed black cockatoo long-billed corella brush bronzewing white-breasted robin

TA10

Carpark tree selection

• Maximum canopy for shade in summer
• Minimal leaf litter
• Low risk of branch failure

Correctly designing the site to enable a particular species to reach their full potential Maximise returns of financial investment associated with modified carpark design/ tree cells etc

TA11

Ideal attributes of carpark trees

• Densely foliated spreading or round crown form as

these cast the most shade

• Good drought tolerance because of the high soil and

air temperatures in car parks (even if soil stays moist), especially in narrow planters

• Good crown structure with a low risk of branch failures
• Winter deciduous trees are often preferred in car parks

because of the dual benefit of providing cool summer shade and warm winter sun.

TA12

Suitability of native trees

• Eucalypts are generally more open-crowned with less

internal foliage and therefore cast less shade

• More densely foliated natives are non-local sub-

tropical species, i.e. Ficus spp. (hills figs), Lophostemon

• sp. (brush box), and Syzygium sp. (liliy pillies)
• Agonis flexuosa (W.A. peppermint), native to south-

west W.A., is not as densely foliated because of its narrow-leaved foliage, but generally more dense than most Eucalypts. But its smaller stature limits the extent

• f shade.

TA13

Suitability of local native tree species

Jarrah Marri Flooded Gum Coastal Blackbutt Banksias *Sheoaks Nuytsia

Small size and/or insufficient shade Slow growing Issues with quantity and size of litter Branch failure potential Variable size/ form Susceptibility to pest and diseases

Dieback Marri canker Dieback Dieback Dieback

Poor tolerance to root disturbance

Dieback= Phytophthora cinnamomi

TA14

Agonis flexuosa – W.A. peppermint

• c. 12 years

Quercus rubra – Red oak

• c. 12 years

Centenary Park carpark tree selection

TA15

Attributes Red Oak Quercus rubra WA Peppermint Agonis flexuosa Predictable size and form Good Good (somewhat variable) Strong crown structure (low risk of branch failure) Excellent Good Crown form - leaf density Rounded / spreading Broad-crowned pendulous (willow-like) Height x width (m) 11 x 11 (20 yrs) 15 x 15 (30 yrs) 9 x 7 (20 yrs) 9 x 9 (30 yrs) Shading potential Very good to excellent Moderate to good (limited by height) Growth rate Moderately rapid Moderately rapid Litter Leaves fall in autumn – small acorns in late summer Moderate year-round leaf fall Seed capsules negligible

TA16

Attributes Red Oak Quercus rubra WA Peppermint Agonis flexuosa Resistance to pest and diseases Very good Very good Non-allergenic Yes Yes Tolerant of wide range

• f environmental

conditions (pH, soil, moisture) Wide range of soils except > pH 7.5 (alkaline soils). Urban tolerant: partial compaction, pollution. Yes – wide range of soils. Not tolerant of extended water logging/anaerobic cond. Urban tolerant: partial compaction, pollution. Strong compartmentalization response High Moderately-high Aesthetic features Very good Good Non-invasive Yes Yes Long-lived (ULE) 100+ 50–70

TA17

Comparison Dec 07 – Dec 13

Centenary Park vegetation

TA18

June 2009 June 2010

TA19